Identity Politics: CBS Fawns Over Winning Democratic Candidates

CBS was still in a state of euphoria Wednesday evening after Democrats won big on Election Day the previous night. During CBS Evening News, the network ran two different segments glorifying Democratic victories in Virginia and elsewhere. “Across the country, the 2017 elections saw big wins for a highly diverse group of candidates,” announced temporary anchor Anthony Mason at the start of the second segment.

CBS reporter Chip Reid began his report by touting the victory of anti-gun candidate Chris Hurst in Virginia. After noting how Hurst lost his girlfriend to a deranged former colleague who shot her, Reid hyped how a “grieving Hurst decided to run for the Virginia House of Delegates as a Democrat in a Republican area and won.”

Sticking with wins in Virginia, Reid praised the victories for Democratic women:

REID: Democrat Danica Roem made history in Virginia by winning a seat in the House of Delegates. She will be the state's first openly transgender lawmaker. She defeated a conservative Republican who sponsored a bill to dictate which bathroom transgender people can use.

(…)

REID: Democrats Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman will be the Virginia House of Delegates’ first Latina members, while Kathy Tran, a former refugee from Vietnam, will be its first Asian American.

At no point did Reid mention that the Commonwealth could have elected a woman as Lieutenant Governor, but candidate Jill Vogel was a Republican and lost, so CBS didn't see a need to bother mentioning that (nevermind that she was the only woman running statewide).

“And it’s not just Virginia, diverse Democrats were elected across the nation,” Reid declared joyously. “Ravinder Bhalla is a Sikh and won the race for mayor in Hoboken, New Jersey, despite racist fliers that said, ‘Don't let terrorism take over our town.’ Democrat Jenny Durkan will be Seattle's first lesbian mayor.”

Reid also hyped the Democratic victories of Wilmot Collins, a Liberian refugee who Slate praised for unseating “the mayor of 16 years with a progressive message” and reported that he “leans Democrat and has voiced views critical of Donald Trump.” Reid also noted, “Andrea Jenkins, winner of a seat on the Minneapolis city council will be the first openly transgender black woman officeholder in the nation.”

It wasn’t until Reid was wrapping up his report that he mentioned a victory from a non-Democratic candidate. “And in a non-partisan race in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, 93-year-old World War II veteran Vito Perillo won the race for mayor,” he noted. According to NewJersey.com, even though it was a “non-partisan election” “Perillo said he ran on a platform of greater transparency and lowering the municipal tax rate. His slogan was ‘a full-time fiscally prudent mayor.’”

“He says he wore out two pairs of shoes campaigning door to door. He also said, quote: ‘I can't wait to get started working as hard as I can,’” Reid mentioned about Perillo.

CBS’s excitement for Democratic victories over Republicans betrayed their claims of being impartial journalists. Especially when looking at 2016’s results where they were dismayed and terrified.

Transcript below:

<<< Please support MRC's NewsBusters team with a tax-deductible contribution today. >>>

ANTHONY MASON: Across the country, the 2017 elections saw big wins for a highly diverse group of candidates. Chip Reid introduces us.

[Cuts to video]

CHIP REID: Chris Hurst was a TV news anchor in southwest Virginia two years ago when his reporter girlfriend was fatally shot by a former station employee during an outdoor live broadcast. Grieving Hurst decided to run for the Virginia House of Delegates as a Democrat in a Republican area and won.

(…)

REID: Democrat Danica Roem made history in Virginia by winning a seat in the House of Delegates. She will be the state's first openly transgender lawmaker. She defeated a conservative Republican who sponsored a bill to dictate which bathroom transgender people can use.

(…)

REID: Democrats Hala Ayala and Elizabeth Guzman will be the Virginia House of Delegates’ first Latina members, while Kathy Tran, a former refugee from Vietnam, will be its first Asian American. And it’s not just Virginia, diverse Democrats were elected across the nation. Ravinder Bhalla is a Sikh and won the race for mayor in Hoboken, New Jersey, despite racist fliers that said, "Don't let terrorism take over our town." Democrat Jenny Durkan will be Seattle's first lesbian mayor.

(…)

REID: Wilmot Collins came to Helena, Montana three years ago as a refugee from Liberia. It’s believed he will be the first black mayor in Montana history. Andrea Jenkins, winner of a seat on the Minneapolis city council will be the first openly transgender black woman officeholder in the nation.

[Cuts back to live]

And in a non-partisan race in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, 93-year-old World War II veteran Vito Perillo won the race for mayor. He says he wore out two pairs of shoes campaigning door to door. He also said, quote: "I can't wait to get started working as hard as I can." Anthony.

MASON: Chip Reid. Congratulations, Mayor Perillo. Thanks, Chip.

Please support NewsBusters today! [a 501(c)(3) non-profit production of the Media Research Center]

The mission of the Media Research Center is to create a media culture in America where truth and liberty flourish. The MRC is a research and education organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the MRC are tax-deductible.